First Impressions:InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask + Retinol Moisturizer

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

Today's blogpost is going to be my first impressions on InstaNatural's Dead Sea Mud mask and Retinol moisturizer. I refer to this as a first impressions and not a review because these two products are skin care items and I've only had them for about a week. I normally like to use skin care items for a longer period of time before I voice my opinion on them. I will do a follow up review that will be more in depth. You can visit their website here. These products were sent to me for review. However, I will always offer my honest thoughts and opinions.

• Dead Sea Mud Mask

This mask is dark gray color. It's very thick but it feels like a gel. When it starts to dry it becomes tight. However, it's not the same kind of tightness you get from an ordinary mud mask. It's as if it get progressively tighter the more it dries. It's not uncomfortable though.  When I finally washed it off my face was soft and smooth. I'll need to use it longer to see the true effects this has.

• Advanced Action Retinol Moisturizer

This moisturizer  seems to be geared toward more mature skin, which I do not have yet. It's supposed to restore and renew firmness, elasticity, and thickness of skin. I apply this in the mornings after I've washed my face. I apply a sun screen and mattifying lotion after it.  I don't use this in the evenings because I use olive oil as a moisturizer at night.  Although this moisturizer seem a bit thicker it's not as moisturizing as I would like. Especially, since it's still cold out.

When I use this I notice that any dried acne seems to go away faster. It happened to me today actually. I just washed my face so I can record a makeup tutorial for my Youtube channel and I had a dried out pimple (hate that word!) on my cheek and the scab covering (I know, gross! I couldn't think of another word) came off while I was washing my face. It didn't start to bleed or anything. My skin feels very smooth after I apply it. I don't feel the texture on my skin as much.

So, That's it.

Have you tried anything from InstaNatural? What did you think?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

FTC: This a sponsored post.

January Favorites!

Assalamu wa Alaykum/Hi,

It's been a while! I'm in my second week of my last semester in college. I can't wait to graduate! My mind is not for school work anymore. Anyway, this post is going to be my January Favorites. I'm only included things I haven't talked about in a previous favorites post/video. So, this post isn't going to be a long one.

1. Bobbi Brown Bronze Glow Highlighter
Okay, I lied. This highlighter was in my last favorites video on my channel. I love it that much. Everyone, on YouTube especially, raves about it. It's more gold than bronze on my skin tone. But, it's still beautiful.

2. MAC Conceal and Correct Palette in Medium/Deep
I've been using the Burnt Orange shade in this palette the most to conceal the darkness under my eyes and around my mouth. I mix NC 40 and NC 42, the two top concealers to conceal and highlight under my eyes.

3. Tarte Tartelette Palette
If you watch my latest tutorials you would know of my love for this palette. It's my first completely matte palette and I love shimmer. It's also my first Tarte palette. The shadows don't seem to swatch nicely but they apply well. I did a separate review video with swatches on my channel. That video should be in the video player on the right side of my blog. If it's not there already it will be there soon.

4. NARS Audacious Lipstick in Kelly
All the hype surrounding the NARS lipsticks made me want to get one bad. I picked this one up at the NARS boutique on Madison avenue. I was going to get a more natural color but my friend convinced to get something bright for spring. I guess when the makeup artist that was helping us heard spring she went all out because this color is so bright. It's not even the first one she tried on me! That one was even brighter! When I saw this on my first reaction was to take it off right away. But, that had more to do with me than the lipstick. However the more I looked at myself with it on, the more I came to like it.

This shade is exclusive to NARS boutiques. (and possibly Barney's? I'm not 100 percent sure.) That makes it even more special to me because it can't be found everywhere. It's a bright pink/coral color. I wore this lipstick in my December Ipsy video. The formula of these lipsticks are amazing! It's so creamy! I intend to get more very soon

5. Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder
I received this powder in one of my previous Ipsy bags. I use this powder to set my under eye concealer/highlight and anywhere else that I've cream highlighted, such as the bridge of my nose, my forehead, and my cupids bow. Although it's invisible it brightens my under eye in a way that doesn't look unnatural.

6. L'oreal True Match Foundation in W8
I don't have that many drugstore foundations for winter. Most of the ones I have are for my summer shade. So, I decided to pick this one up and I'm so glad that I did. Since the weather is much colder and dryer now, my skin has gotten significantly dryer. This foundation isn't completely matte. It has more luminosity to it than say my BECCA Ultimate Coverage Creme foundation which I also love. I prefer to apply this foundation with my Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush and it's perfect for every day. The coverage is medium and that's perfect for every day. However, I usually don't use it when I'm filming. My camera shows everything which is a good and a bad thing.

7. ELF Complete Coverage Concealer Palette
I bought this concealer palette mainly to cream contour with. It also has a shade that is perfect for me to spot conceal imperfections with. The concealers are creamy and pigmented. For only $3 that is a steal!

So, That's it.

What have you been loving in the month of January?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

Dupe Alert: Dior Addict Fluid Stick Vs. L'oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

So, this post is going much later than I prefer! But I have been so uninspired lately and all I have been doing are reviews. So, I wanted to switch it up a little.

While I was applying my L'oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain in the shade '188 Coral Tattoo,' I immediately thought of my Dior Addict Fluid Stick. It's not the color that reminds me of my Fluid Stick but the formula. The Dior Addict Fluid Stick is $35 and the L'oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain retails for around $9-$10.

When you first apply them they feel very wet and light, like water. I recommend using the applicator to apply and blend for both products.

However, the Fluid Stick is more pigmented and stickier. I normally have to layer the L'oreal Color Caresse but with the Fluid Stick I dip back into the bottle once for each lip. They both have two very distinctive and different fragrances in them. Both of them dry with a nice shine.Also, both of them leave a stain but the Dior Fluid Stick stains longer.

They both have the same kind of applicator as well. I know the Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain is often compared to the YSL Glossy Stain. I've never tried the YSL Glossy Stain. But, to me it seemed very comparable to the Fluid Stick. They're not exact dupes but if you want something similar to the Dior Fluid Stick and don't want to pay $35, you should definitely try the L'oreal Color Caresse Wet Shine Stain.

So, what do you think?

Until Next Time,

Aleema :)

Outfit of the Day #16

Assalamu wa Alaykum/ Hi,

Today I wanted to share my outfit that I wore on Saturday. It was the outfit I wore in this Instagram picture:

 If you don't follow me on Instagram, I have button for all my social media on the right. So, you can follow me if you'd like. I went with a friend to the Cherry walk near the Hudson River. It was such a nice day out. We had frozen yogurt and did a lot walking around. Now, if only the weather could have stayed that nice. It's supposed to rain all week.

This is my outfit laid out:

The top can technically be used as a dress. I bought it from Forever 21. I don't remember where I got the long sleeve shirt. You could probably find something similar in the basic section of any clothing store. I've had the green cargo pants since high school, I believe they're from T.J. Maxx. The bag is from Target. I bought it online. It's smaller than I thought it would be but it still fits a lot of stuff. The scarf is from J.C. Penny. The pink inner head piece was from a local Islamic store in Brooklyn.

The sandals are also from Forever 21. I like the rose gold that goes across. It makes it a little more special than your average flip flop.

Sorry about the squinting in the picture above. The sun was really bright that day!

So, That's it.

Until Next Time,

Aleema